Effect of epidermal growth factor against radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis in rats

• Published in: International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics Vol. 67; no. 4; pp. 1172 - 1178
• Main Authors: Lee, Sang-wook, M.D., Ph.D, Jung, Kwon Il, Ph.D, Kim, Yeun Wha, B.S, Jung, Heun Don, M.S, Kim, Hyun Sook, M.D, Hong, Joon Pio, M.D., Ph.D., M.M.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 15.03.2007
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Animals; ANOREXIA; Anti-Ulcer Agents - therapeutic use; BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Epidermal Growth Factor - therapeutic use; GROWTH FACTORS; HAIR; HEAD; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; IRRADIATION; LINEAR ACCELERATORS; Mouth Mucosa - pathology; Mouth Mucosa - radiation effects; Mucositis; Radiation; Radiation Injuries - drug therapy; Radiation Injuries - pathology; RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGANISMS AND BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS; Radiology; RADIOTHERAPY; Random Allocation; RATS; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Recombinant human epidermal growth factor; Recombinant Proteins - therapeutic use; SENSITIVITY; Stomatitis - drug therapy; Stomatitis - pathology; Recombinant human epidermal growth factor; Mucositis; Radiation
• ISSN: 0360-3016; 1879-355X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2006.10.038

Purpose: We tested the efficacy of oral recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) against radiation-induced oral mucositis in a rat model. Methods and Materials: Each of 35 Sprague-Dawley rats, 7 to 8 weeks of age and weighing 178 ± 5 grams, was irradiated once in the head region with 25 Gy, using a 4-MV therapeutic linear accelerator at a rate of 2 Gy/min. The irradiated rats were randomly divided into four groups: those receiving no treatment (Group 1), those treated with vehicle only three times per day (Group 2), and those treated with 50 μg/mL (Group 3), or 100 μg/mL (Group 4) rhEGF three times per day. Results: Rats were monitored for survival rate and daily activity, including hair loss, sensitivity, and anorexia. We found that survival rate and oral intake were significantly increased and histologic changes were significantly decreased in the rhEGF-treated rats. There was no difference, however, between rats treated with 50 μg/mL or 100 μg/mL rhEGF. Conclusion: These findings suggest that orally administered rhEGF decreased radiation-induced oral mucositis in rats.